Recently, Munich introduced the Regulation on the Management of Patient-Friendly Houses, requiring foster families to pay a bond of Euro2000, and pets to be assessed annually for their behaviour, and violators to deduct credits and restrict access to facilities. The system has reduced neighbourhood disputes by 42 per cent and has become a European model for pet management.
Traditionally, Germany ' s pet culture and legal system is a more advanced and rigorous system globally, reflecting the importance attached to animal welfare. Germany ' s pet culture and legal provisions are elaborated in several ways:
1. Overview of pet culture
German pet culture is well developed in Europe and the world. According to statistics, more than half of German households have pets, and dogs and cats are the most common, in addition to small pets such as rabbits, birds and fish. The pets are not only companions in the German family, but are also regarded as members of the family and are treated with a high degree of consistency with human life.
Patient care
Daily life: pets are carefully cared for in family life. The Germans focus on the health, diet, living environment and psychological needs of the pets. Many families purchase high-quality foods, toys for their pets and regularly take them to veterinary clinics.
Pet friendly facilities: Many public places in Germany, such as restaurants, cafés and shops, are pet friendly and are allowed in. In some places, drinking water and food for pets is even available. In addition, Germany has a large number of pet parks, which provide space for pets such as dogs.
Adoption rather than purchase
Culture of adoption: Germans usually promote the acquisition of pets through animals in foster shelters, rather than buying them from pet shops. Many Germans believe that the adoption of stray animals is the most ethical option and that pet shops or irresponsible reproduction may lead to problems of animal welfare. The shelter carries out rigorous screening of adopters to ensure that animals have access to suitable new homes.
2. The pet legal system
Germany ' s pet legal framework is one of the most stringent and forward-looking systems of animal protection in the world.
The Animal Protection Act (Tierschutzgesetz)
Core Code: Germany ' s Animal Protection Act was first adopted in 1972 and strengthened in several amendments, providing that animals should be protected from pain, injury and unnecessary suffering. The law expressly prohibits the abuse of animals and stipulates that pet owners must raise their pets in a manner consistent with animal welfare.
Legal liability: The owner of the pet is considered to have a major responsibility to the animal, not only for the provision of food and water to the animal, but also for the care of its mental health. Any form of abuse, abandonment or neglect of animals can lead to severe legal consequences, including fines or even imprisonment.
Moreover, there are numerous animal protection organizations and volunteers working to improve animal welfare in Germany, such as the German Association for the Protection of Animals (Deutscher Tierschutzbund), which monitors and promotes policies and laws relating to animal protection and actively manages animal shelters and adoption systems. In addition, the volunteer culture is very active in Germany, with many helping animal shelters through donations, volunteering, etc.